Jackson County, Oregon Bans GMOs

Speaking as a former organic farmer and USDA-contract organic inspector, the recent vote in Jackson County Oregon to ban genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) marks a HUGE setback for the organic community across America.

For years we argued that the farming community should respect OUR right to be organic. Now we’ve switched to denying our neighbors THEIR rights. And that goes against everything it has ever meant to be organic.

We were never in the business of denying our neighbors the right to use advanced technologies. We only stipulated that WE would not use them, and then let customers decide if they agreed with our philosophy. And they have.

During the same time GMOs have been in use, organic sales grew exponentially, putting the lie to activist claims that GMOs threaten organic farms. The organic industry in North America is now worth more than Major League Baseball, and publicly-traded organic businesses compete on the NY Stock Exchange against conventional food companies, a measure of success, not victimhood.

This is America. If we don’t live by the free market, we shouldn’t be surprised if the free market suddenly turns on us.

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Mischa Popoff is a policy advisor at Heartland. He is a former organic farmer and USDA-contract organic inspector, and is the author of the critically acclaimed book, Is it Organic?

Mischa Popoff is the author of the critically-acclaimed book, Is it Organic? He earned a B.A. from the University of Saskatchewan where he specialized in the history of nitrogen for fertilizer and warfare. He then worked as an Advanced Organic Farm and Process Inspector, inspecting over 500 organic farms and processing facilities on both sides of the border. He stopped inspecting when he realized there was no appetite in the industry to eliminate fraud and gross negligence, nor to improve the quality of organic food. He now works as a public speaker, political columnist and radio host.

So the writer figures it’s OK that those ignorant of the potential harm of GMOs keep choking those products down as long as it doesn’t disturb organic sales? Don’t know if that’s more despicable than Monsanto et al but it’s damn close.

Sophonisba

The problem with GMO farming is the over-drift of gmo pollens, etc.. Organic doesn’t impinge on others’ farms…Monsanto’s products do…they contaminate organic farms. For which heinous act (how dare those darn bees fly and pollinate BOTH organic and GMO farms?) Wake the hell up, sir…your logic is supremely flawed. Glad you’re no longer an organic farmer – you probably thought it was okay to put antibiotics on your plants, too.

Karin Six

Come on! GMO crops contaminate organic crops! We need organic zones obviously. Also, organic was first (not to mention safest). The first GMO crop was deemed natural and got the blue light for others but now we have tons of research showing wild DNA that can affect us. Where did all this autism come from? Hmmmm? Now our stupid president makes it impossible to sue Monsanto? WTH! Please hold your principles and be happy that you live in a safe food area! The rest of us are not so lucky!

hyperzombie

Come on! GMO crops contaminate organic crops!

No more or less than any crop can contaminate any other. Seed farmers have kept unwanted pollens out of their seeds for 100s of years now, Why is it now a problem?

research showing wild DNA that can affect us.

WTH, isn’t all DNA wild?

Now our stupid president makes it impossible to sue Monsanto?

there is no law against suing Monsanto

Karin Six

Contamination is worse with GMOs… Let’s just label and be able to choose!

Karin Six

Google Steve Marsh in Australia…. Probably the most famous case. See how difficult it is to make Monsanto responsible? Let’s just label and personally choose what we feel is safe. Let’s not protect big corps like Monsanto who give us toxins in our food and fight labeling (like in VT – Google it!)